Flying-machine.



F. E. SUMMERS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. m5.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEEF 2.

F. E. SUMMERS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEE|' I.

' Patented Apr. 4,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. SUMMERS,OF MEMPHIS, MISSOURI.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Application filed May 22, 1915. Serial N 0. 29,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. SUMMERS, a citizen of'the United States,residing at Memphis, in the county of Scotland and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying- Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines, and has for its object theprovision of a structure in which thesoaring or initial flight from theground will be easily and quickly accomplished; to provide a machine inwhich a buoyant field will be utilized and thesustaining power of themachine thereby increased; to provide a machine which will be verystable in flight and capable of obtaining a very high speed with minimumstrain upon'the motor; and to improve generally the construction andarrangement of the parts of a flying'machine to the end that theefliciency thereof will be increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flying machine havingthe dead weight so disposed below the center of horizontal pressure thatthe weight will tend to stabilize thewmachine during flight.

All these stated objects, and such other incidental objects as willappear from the following description, are attained in a ma-. chine ofthe character illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and theinvention consists in certain novel features which will be particularlypointed out in the claim following the description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flying machineembodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the samepartly in section; Fig. 3'is a detail perspective view of a portion ofthe frame showing the steering mechanism; and

Fig. 4=is a detail view.

.In carrying out my invention, I employ a frame which consists of aseries ofuprights 1 which are connected by transverse bars or braces 2and longitudinal :bars 3, all these parts being preferably tubular so asto obtain maximum strength with mlnlmum weight and size. The side bars 3converge toward their rear ends, and the uprlghts 1 diminish in heightfrom the front toward the rearend thereof. Ground wheels 4 are mountedupon the frame at; the frontcorners thereof, and other ground wheels 5are hung upon the frame between the longitudi- Speciflcation 01: LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

nal center and the rear end thereof by means of brackets 6 and suitablebraces or guy rods Thehangers 6 arelong enough to support theframe insuch a position that the rear end thereof will not be in contact withthe ground when the machine has alighted and is at rest, but they arenot long enough to hold the upper side of the frame in a horizontalposition. As a result of this arrangement, the frame will be tilteddownwardly from the front end to the rear end so that the planes 8mounted on the frame will be in the proper position to cause an ascentof the machine very quickly after it is set in motion.

One or more planes 8 may be used but thev are preferably rovided inpairs, the members of each pair eing disposed at oppo site sides of theframe and projecting laterally therefrom. One pair of planes iscarrled'by a cross beam 9 secured to the foremost uprights 1, and thesecond pair of planes is carried by a similar cross bar or beam 10secured to .intermediate uprights 1, both ofsaid beams or cros's'bars 9and 10 projecting laterally beyond. the opposite sides of the frame. Theplanes 8 may be ofthe monoplane or biplane type and of equal or unequalarea and are preferably turned slightly upwardly at their front ends, asindicated at-1;1,,and then extend downwardly toward their rear ends sothat their lower surfaces will be'naturally at an inclination to the,line of travel of the machine. It will thus be seen that, when themachine'has'been set in motion, a lifting action will take place atonce, and the machine will quickly rise from the round; The outerextremities of the cross hars 9 and 10 are connected with the frame bybraces 12 so that collapse of the planes will not be apt to occur butthe machine will be properly sustained at all times.

A motor 13 is mounted upon the machine frame between the beams 9 and 10,and the shaft 14 of said motor is connected by sprocket gearing 15 wit ha counter-shaft -16 journaled in suitable bearings upon the main frameand extended to the front end thereof. A propeller 17 of the usualformis secured upon the front extremity of the shaft 16 and a seat 18for the aviator is secured upon the frame-in rear of the motor and inadvance of the rear planes 8. A fuel tank 19 is also mounted upon theframe in any convenient position and will preferably be disposed abovethe motor, and together with the motor and the counter-shaft, will liein the central longitudinal vertical plane of the machine, therebyaiding in maintaining the stability of the machine during flight.

A buoyant field, which in the illustrated arrangement, is in the form ofan inflatable bag. 20 carried upon a rigid frame 21 and having taperedfront and rear ends, is mounted upon the upper extremities of theuprights 1 which project above the countershaft 16 and the tank 19,'asclearly shown. The relative dimensions of the inflatable tank or bag andthe planes 8 may be varied according to the purposes for which themachine is particularly designedso that the dead weight of the machinemay be carried principally by either the planes or the buoyant field, aswill be deemed most desirable. It will be readily noted that the weightis centralized below the gas bag 20 and, consequently, the force ofgravity will aid in holding the machine in a stable position duringflight so that inversion or overturning of the machine through the forceof sudden squalls or unexpected air currents is not apt to occur. Thebag may be inflated by gas, hot air, or other vapor, as may be desired.

At the rear end of the machine frame, I provide a horizontally disposedrudder 22 which is hingedly or pivotally mounted upon the rearcross bar23 of the frame and is secured at its front edgeto a vertically disposedlever arm 24 which extends above and below the said cross bar 23 and maybe further connected with the rubber by wires or cables 25 extendingrespectively from its upper and lower ends to the outer free edge of therudder. Other rods or wires 26 extend from the upper and lower ends ofthe lever arm 24 to a controlling lever 27 which is suitably mountedupon the main frame and is equipped with a latch 2'8 adapted tocooperate with a holding segment 29 in the usual manner so as tomaintain the rudder in a set position. It will be readily understoodthat the machine will be caused to ascend or descend according as therudder 22 is swung or warped upwardly or down- Wardly.

To permit the machine to be steered to one side, I provide a verticallydisposed rudder 30 which is carried by the upper end of a verticallydisposed rock shaft 31 mounted in suitable bearings 32 on the mainframe, preferably in advance of the horizontal rudder 22, and equippedat its lower end with crank arms 33 connected by links or similarmembers 34: with a controlling lever 35. The said controlling lever 35is equipped with a latch 36 adapted to coop- "erate with the segment 37to maintain the rudder in a set position.

In Fig. 4, I have an arrangement for yieldably holding a stabilizinglever in a normal position consisting of springs 38 disposed above andbelow the fulcrum of the lever and connected with the lever by links 39,other links 40 connecting the springs with the frame. In this figure, Ialso show turnbuckles all in the rods connecting the lever with themember adjusted by it so that the desired tension may be easilyobtained.

'It will be readily understood that these springs tend to hold the leverin a normal position and to quickly return it to a normal position afterit has been shifted for any reason. If the springs be connected to theends of the planes they will equalize the lift on the opposite ends ofthe planes and, consequently, counteract any tendency of the planes toflutter 0r vibrate, thus detrimentally affecting the stability of themachine.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided amachine which will very quickly soar, and after attaining a considerableheight will travel rapidly and smoothly without the expenditure of highpower or an excessive strain upon the motor. WVhen the machine is atrest, it will be disposed at an angle to the ground surface so that,when the motor is started, the travel of the machine under the influenceof the propeller 17 will bring the planes 8 against the body of air insuch a manner that the machine will almost instantly begin to rise.After the desired height has been attained, the horizontal rudder may beadjusted to check the rising movement and cause the machine to travelforwardly only. As the machine is provided with a buoyant field, theplanes may be utilized principally as sustaining surfaces and willaccomplish -this function without being of unwieldy dimensions.Moreover, as the machine is buoyant, the force exerted .by the propellerwill be exerted entirely in causing the travel of the machine and,consequently, the motor will run easily and with a slight consumption offuel. The rigid frame in the buoyant field'will prevent total collapseof the same, and the flexible character of the gas bag will readilyaccommodate expansion or contraction of gas employed due to thevariations of the temperature or other weather conditions.

Having thus described the invention, 1

with the motor, a buoyant tank supported corners of the frame, hangersdepending 10 directly by and above the frame and exfrom the rear portionof the frame and tending longitudinally thereof and having groundWheelson said hangers, the ground tapered ends, a horizontally disposedrud- Wheels supporting the frame When at rest der at the rear extremityof the frame, a with the rear end off the ground but tilted verticallydisposed rudder near and in addownwardly. 15 vance of the horizontalrudder, means for In testimony whereof I afiix my signacontrolling saidrudders from a point near ture.

the motor, ground wheels at the lower front FRANK E. SUMMERS. [L. s.]

